The fifth poorest country in the world, Malawi faces many social, economic and health challenges. That’s why Youth Sport Trust International is establishing a new Beckwith International Leadership Development programme (BILD) there, working with in country partner, the Bhubesi Pride Foundation.

BILD Malawi will upskill practitioners and then mentor them to train young people from the local community to become sports leaders, developing their life and employability skills through physical activity and sport. These young leaders will then put their new skills into practice by running activity festivals for younger children.

BILD is a unique initiative which enables thousands of children in the developing world to achieve their full potential through sports leadership training. The programme works alongside government ministries and established in country organisations to ensure as many children as possible are impacted by our work and that young people can still benefit from our teaching after the programme has ended. The project has previously been delivered in Ghana, Tanzania and St Lucia, reaching more than 375,000 people in total.

Working with local partner Bhubesi Pride Foundation, BILD Malawi is a four year programme, which aspires to the following outcomes:

1. Young people will have accessed high quality leadership development training through sport resulting in their involvement as sport and event volunteers, coaches, officials and administrators. They will become active leaders in schools, communities and national organisations that contribute to the development of Malawi.
2. A proportion of young people will have a portfolio of skills and competencies that will enhance their life chances and employability.
3. Malawian children in schools and communities will experience sport and play activities organised by their older peers, who they perceive as role models.
4. Strategic national, regional and district stakeholders will have a deeper understanding of youth sport leadership, and have taken steps to integrate the concept into national, regional, and district plans.
5. Stakeholders will acknowledge the benefit of BILD through programme connectivity.
6. BILD will be integrated into school and community plans.

For further information about Bhubesi Pride Foundation visit https://bpfafrica.org/. For further information about Youth Sport Trust International and BILD visit https://www.youthsporttrust.org/yst-international.